Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Importance of Learning as a Child

In life we go through so many trials. We have to make so many huge decisions in life. Wouldn't it be nice to know what the answers already are? What would you do to know you can receive spiritual guidance by living the principles of the Gospel? Growing up in a family of 8 children was amazing. Some may ponder how did my parents do it. Well I just wonder how they dealt with me. HAHA! Well there is one major part that helped them to raise all of us kids. Teaching in the home was a huge part of our growing up life. The teaching that went on was a righteous teaching. They were teaching proper conduct according to the words of our modern day prophet. Don't get me wrong we are FAR from perfect but my parents did what they could to teach us right. In this teaching we saw their example, we saw that they loved us. We saw the joy and happiness that comes from living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I would like to talk about a few of things that I learned in the home and some examples of others.

In my parents home as a family we went to church every week. We were fortunate enough to live not very far from the church. It was across town which averages about 4 minutes if you ran. From a child I learned of Jesus Christ and the things which He has done for us. We were taught about prophets and how God can still speak to us today. My mother and father showed me examples of how righteous people should live. They taught me how to work and provide for myself. They taught me the importance of having a relationship with my Heavenly Father. When I was a young boy I remember my mom teaching us kids in the home about church, about life, about families and the importance of them and they taught us to not sin. We were taught righteously in the home that is the big part. This learning in the home was very important to me. I cherish the things I learned at home from my parents. One of the most important things my parents taught us was to recognize the Spirit. It is so hard to figure it out. It is truly a life saving lesson. The Spirit or Holy Ghost is there as a Comforter as Jesus spoke about in John 14:26. He can teach us all things. He is there to manifest to us truths and to testify of God the Father and and His Son Jesus Christ.

In the book "Jesus the Christ" on page 111 it states, "In such simplicity is the normal, natural development of the boy Jesus made clear. He came among men to experience all the natural conditions of mortality; He was born as truly a dependent, helpless babe as is any other child; His infancy was in all common features as the infancy of others; His boyhood was actual boyhood. His development was as necessary and as real as that of all children. Over His mind had fallen the veil of forgetfulness common to all who are born to earth." The Apostle, James E. Talmage wrote this book. He talks about the birth of the Savior. Jesus was born as any other child. It later talks about Jesus learned about His Heavenly Father at His mothers knees. His mother taught Him perfectly. That is the importance of parents teaching the Gospel to their children. Does this help you understand more the importance of teaching your children? I sure hope so, it put a huge change of thinking about learning. Education is important as I will talk about later.

"Teaching in the home is becoming increasingly important in today’s world, where the influence of the adversary is so widespread and he is attacking, attempting to erode and destroy the very foundation of our society, even the family. Parents must resolve that teaching in the home is a most sacred and important responsibility. While other institutions, such as church and school, can assist parents to “train up a child in the way he [or she] should go” (Proverbs 22:6), ultimately this responsibility rests with parents. According to the great plan of happiness, it is parents who are entrusted with the care and development of our Heavenly Father’s children. Our families are an integral part of His work and glory—“to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). On God’s eternal stage, it is usually intended that parents act as the central cast members in their children’s lives. Fortunately, there are understudies involved in the production who may step in when parents can’t. It, however, is parents who have been commanded by the Lord to bring up their children in light and truth (see D&C 93:40).

Parents must bring light and truth into their homes by one family prayer, one scripture study session, one family home evening, one book read aloud, one song, and one family meal at a time. They know that the influence of righteous, conscientious, persistent, daily parenting is among the most powerful and sustaining forces for good in the world. The health of any society, the happiness of its people, their prosperity, and their peace all find common roots in the teaching of children in the home.

Elder Joseph Fielding Smith taught: “It is the duty of parents to teach their children these saving principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, so that they will know why they are to be baptized and that they may be impressed in their hearts with a desire to continue to keep the commandments of God after they are baptized, that they may come back into his presence. Do you, my good brethren and sisters, want your families, your children; do you want to be sealed to your fathers and your mothers before you … ? If so, then you must begin by teaching at the cradle-side. You are to teach by example as well as precept”(Elder L. Tom Perry, Quorum of the Twleve Apostles)

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Mormon

About Me

Hello! I started this blog while I was serving a LDS Mission. I have decided to keep it going. Most importantly I have learned from this experience and in times of hardship, these articles have kept me going. I would absolutely love to hear from you your experiences with this blog. If there is any topic you would like me to research and study, feel free to ask. I know God lives! Jesus Christ is my Savior! Honored I am to share His Gospel!